Construction of cast posts, and particularly the construction of concrete struts by means of metallic frames



Oct. 3, 1961 CONSTRUCTION OF CONCRETE STRUTS BY MEANS OF METALLIC FRAMESFiled March 31, 1955 Hg. I

' R. HUET CONSTRUCTION OF CAST POSTS, AND PARTICULARLY THE in nu III] MII] M an Ill nite The invention relates to the construction of castposts, and particularly the construction of concrete struts by means ofmetallic frames.

The construction of concrete struts is one of the problems most oftenmet with in public Works and building construction. This problem ishowever often of diflicult solution owing to the great variety presentedby the section of these struts, while the metallic panels used for theframes have standardised dimensions.

Up to now, this problem has been solved in two ditferent manners.

A first solution consists in using panels of various dimensions. It isthen possible to connect together panels of different dimensions andobtain in this manner struts of varied dimensions. For example, by usingin combination panels of 10, 15, 20, 2S and 50 centimetres, it ispossible to construct struts the sides of which vary in length by stepsof centrimetres. However, the use of such a large number of panels isobjectionable in practice.

The second solution consists in shuttering the struts by means of panelsof standard dimensions so disposed that the free edge of a panel abutsagainst one of the adjacent panels and that the latter panel itselfconstitutes an abutment for another adjacent panel. In this case, thepanels abutting against each other are connected at the corners bygussets placed on the edge of the panels between two superposed tiers offrames.

This arrangement is an improvement on the former one, but itnevertheless still has drawbacks. As a matter of fact, in order to avoidchinks in the framework, it is necessary to place, between the gussetsand the edges of the panels, packings which form joints between thegussets. These packings must have varied sizes in order to allow for thevaried panel sections and this leads to the provision of sets ofpackings of different dimensions. In short, the difiiculty has butchanged its nature and, instead of having to deal with sets of panels,one has to deal with standard dimension panels but with relativelynumerous sets of packings.

The invention has for its object to obviate the drawbacks of themetallic frames hitherto in use, and to allow the use of metallic panelsof standard size and assembling gussets which do not require sets ofpackings.

According to the invention, two successive slabs of panels are connectedby stays constituted by flat sections, each flat section being providedwith a gusset inside which slides one of the adjacent flat sections.

The flat sections and the panels may besides be provided with orificesserving to anchor them to each other.

The invention will now be described in greater details with reference tothe accompanying drawings, which represent a preferred embodiment givenby way of example.

FIG. 1 is a plan showing the manner of anchoring the panels in one ofthe methods formerly in use, necessitating the use of packings blockingthe chinks between the gussets.

FIG. 2 is a part section of a frame according to the invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan of an assembling gusset.

FIG. 1 shows panels 1, 2, 3 and 4 abutting against each other by one oftheir free edges. A slab of frame is assembled with the next slab bymeans of angle gustates Patent "ice sets 5 connecting together thepanels of a same slab. In order to avoid the chinks between the gussets,packings are disposed in the spaces existing between the gussets and thepanel slabs.

In the assembly shown in FIG. 1 the packings are of two diiferentdimensions, 6 and 7. It will be easily understood that there must beavailable packings of very varied dimensions in order to allow for theconsiderable variation taking place in the dimensions of the sections ofthe struts.

FIGS. 2 and 3 relate to the frames according to the invention and onemay ascertain from them that the packings 6 and 7 are entirely done awaywith and that only one kind of each member, that is to say one kind ofpanel and one kind of assembling gusset is utilised. Of course, besides,some diflerent dimensions may be provided in order to allow for verygreat variations in the sections of the struts, but on the one hand thisis not indispensable, and on the other hand one may have only a verysmall quantity of panels of diiferent sizes.

The panels 8 are disposed in a similar manner to the panels representedin FIG. 1. On the horizontal edges of the panels are disposed metallicstrips 9 (FIG. 3) provided with spaced perforations or openings 10 whichpermit on the one hand to fix these strips on the edges of the panelsand on the other hand to connect the panels to each other. Each strip 9is provided with a gusset 11 which is in a different plane from theplane of the strip 9. Each gusset 11 is provided with a channel 12 thewidth of which corresponds to the width of a strip 9 so that it isadapted to receive the latter.

In this manner, four strips 9 can be assembled, each one of these stripsbeing engaged in the adjacent gusset 11. The arrangement represented inFIG. 2. is thus obtained.

The gussets 11 are provided with a plurality of spaced perforations oropenings 13 adapted to receive pins which fix in position the strips 9engaged in the channels 12 of the gussets.

According to the invention, the strips 9 are substituted for thepackings of varied dimensions 6 and 7.

The dimensions of the strut may be adjusted easily in steps as small asdesired owing to the number of perforations 10 and 13, provided in thestrips 9 and the gussets 11, respectively.

The advantages of the arrangement described above are the following:

(a) The assembly of panels is made with a single kind of packing of onedimension only and not with packings of multiple dimensions, as in theformer arrangement.

(b) The dimensions of the strut may be adjusted with a smallapproximation, this being dependent on the ratio of the spacing of theperforations in the panels and in the flat sections, respectively.

(0) The angular rigidity of the frames is ensured in a perfect manner bythe gussets.

It is well understood that the invention is not limited to theembodiment described and represented in the drawings, which embodimentmay be modified in details without departing from the scope of theinvention, as defined by the claim.

What I claim is:

A metallic frame for casting concrete struts comprising four like panelsof standard dimensions arranged to enclose a rectangular quadrilateralthe dimensions of which are adjustable, the said panels being disposedat right angles to each other with the end edge of one abutting againsta face of the next inwardly of the adjacent end thereof, a metallicstrip disposed on the horizontal edge of each panel externally of saidopening and extending between the two panels at right angles to thepanel on which said strip lies, means connecting each strip to its panelexternally of the panel walls, a gusset fixed at one end of eachmetallic strip externally of the panels and having an open-ended channeldisposed at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the strip, eachsuch channel being dimensioned to receive and engage the ungusseted endof the next contiguous metallic strip, each of the meatlic strips andgussets being provided with a plurality of spaced perforations, and pinmeans for locking the strips and gussets in adjusted relationshipthrough such perforations.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS779,319 Russell Jan. 3, 1905 Ki-llits June 2, Butterworth Feb. 9, MeyerSept. 28, Pembetrton May 16, Newton Nov. 16, Symons Mar. 5, Symons Mar.17, Venard June 8, Otte et a1 May 6,

FOREIGN PATENTS France Apr. 28,

